Page 12 of A New Arrival at Cwtch Cove

‘Ha! I wish you had a crystal ball so you could tell me what I’m going to be when I grow up.’

‘I wonder when I’m going to feel grownup, but I suspect it’s not going to happen for a while.’ He winked and they smiled at each other then he said, ‘I think that based on what your mum has told me about you and on what I’ve seen already, you can do anything you put your mind to. But first, take some time to be kind to yourself and to have a break. Everyone is entitled to have a break now and then. It’s good for you to recharge.’

‘That’s wise advice.’

The waitress came over with their drinks then. ‘Thanks, Lili,’ he said with a smile.

‘You’re very welcome, Henry.’ The waitress lingered at the table for a moment, her eyes on Alice.

‘Oh, sorry! You haven’t been introduced. Lili, this is Alice. She’s Trudy’s daughter.’

‘Of course!’ Lili beamed at Alice then stuck out her hand. ‘It’s so nice to meet you. Your mum talks about you all the time.’

‘Nice to meet you too.’ Alice smiled as she shook Lili’s hand.

‘Right, if you need anything else just give me a wave,’ Lili said.

When she’d gone, Henry said, ‘Lili Parry moved here in the summer. She’s really nice.’

‘Are you two together?’ Alice asked, then not waiting for his reply she said, ‘I was wondering if that was why she waited to be introduced. It’s perfectly feasible that you could be involved with a pretty brunette like Lili. Of course it is. I mean… she’s very pretty. You’re handsome.’ She waved a hand like she was flicking something away and her tone made Henry wonder if the thought of him with Lili displeased her.

‘No!’ Henry laughed as if the question was ridiculous. ‘She’s involved with Noah Curnow.’

‘The owner of The Board House?’

‘That’s right. Absolutely besotted with each other they are. He’s even had her trying out surfing.’

‘That must be nice.’ Alice smiled.

‘Yeah…’ Henry picked up his latte and took a sip. ‘We should go surfing some time or body boarding at least. Perhaps in the spring if you’re still here when it gets a bit warmer again. Anyway, back to you and your quandary.’

Alice grinned at him.

‘What?’ he asked.

‘You have a frothy moustache.’

He ran his hand over his top lip and it came away white so he grabbed a napkin and wiped his palm on it. ‘I do that every time but at least it made you smile.’

‘A froth moustache is always funny,’ she said. ‘But on a serious note… This is all so difficult. I love my mum so much and hate to think I might be letting her down in any way.’

‘She’d never think that. Not in a million years.’

‘Mum thinks a lot of you too,’ Alice said.

‘She’s been good to me since I started working for her. She’s got a good heart and nothing’s too much trouble for her.’

‘That’s true. She’d do anything for anyone and she’s always been the same. You know, she’s never had a relationship since my dad passed away though.’

‘Never?’

‘Never.’

‘That’s a shame. She has a lot to offer and it would be nice for her to have someone to lean on.’

‘I tell her this and she says she’ll never love another man. As far as she’s concerned, my dad was the only man she’ll ever want and no man will be able to compare to him.’

‘It must be amazing to love someone that much.’

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